Eupeodes-System: early season aphid control

As spring approaches and temperatures are on the rise, aphids are reappearing, signaling it is time to start introductions of the low temperature tolerant, generalist aphid predator Eupeodes-System – says Koen Merkus, IPM and Pollination Specialist.    Low temperature tolerant“While most hoverflies have an optimum temperature…

Residue analysis on ornamental plants

Constant attention has been drawn to the use of plant protection products in floriculture. When using plant protection products, choices are carefully made as chain stores make high demands on the residues of flowers and plants. Growers can determine the levels of crop protection products by screening…

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Recognizing and preventing phytotoxicity

Sometimes products used for pest or disease management can end up injuring the crops they are meant to help. Learn how to recognize and prevent phytotoxicity from pesticide applications. Phytotoxicity can be caused by things like pesticides, air pollutants, fertilizers, or other chemicals. This Alert…

"It extends the shelf life of roses by 50-100%"

Trials show that Florasys products extends the shelf life of roses by 50-100%, says Chanel Daniel-Swartland, Technical Affairs Manager at Tessara, a company that is one of the industry leaders in Sulphur dioxide generating products used for the preservation of fruits and vegetables. The Florasys…

Thrip protection and prevention of excessive humidity

Effective defense against whitefly, thrip, and aphids and reliable protection against excessive humidity to combat fungal diseases, with 0 impact: all this is on offer from Arrigoni, the Italian Group that has designed and produced agrotextiles for use in farming for over 60 years. The solutions will…

A nose for trouble – sniffing out plant pests

Invasive plant pests are threatening safe and sustainable food production. Many plant pests are transported across international borders on plants, where they can hide as stowaways. Researchers from all over Europe have joined forces to create electronic noses that can sniff out plants infected with…

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UK: Fees for import inspections of plants for planting

Flat rate fees were introduced on 22 July 2022 for physical and identity checks on imported plants for planting (excluding bulbs and seeds). We have become aware of a technical issue with the application of charges for plant health import checks on plants for planting. There have been cases where flat…

Pest control trials in practice at Green'05

Ornamental grower Green'05 uses biological control agents in pest management. Traps and a drone from Pats-C are also used. In a video from Biobest, Martijn from Green'05 and Marvin from Biobest talk more about their cooperation and pest management.

CAN (ON): Crop Defenders to distribute Maxstim Products

Maxstim Products Ltd. has appointed Crop Defenders Ltd. to distribute its range of Biostimulants. Maxstim Agriculture Plus, certified by CFIA for the use on edible food crops…

Mass media campaigns can be effective in promoting safer crop pest and disease control

A new CABI-led study has found that mass media campaigns aimed at changing pesticide use to fight crop pests and diseases are more effective when farmers are exposed to multiple forms of communication. CABI scientists collaborated with colleagues from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources…

Producer and developer of bumblebees and beneficial insects collaborate

BioBee Sde Eliyahu Ltd. is celebrating 40 years of innovation and is one of the leading international producers of bumblebees for pollination and beneficial insects and mites for agricultural purposes. BioBee is proud to announce that it is now a strategic partner of BloomX.  BloomX (formerly Bumblebee AI)…

Dr. Lara Ramaekers to lead Biobest’s biopesticides team

Lara joins Biobest from UPL - the Mumbai-based global provider of sustainable agricultural technologies and services - where she was the Global Biocontrol Portfolio Lead.…

Intervention after finding root knot nematode in Dutch greenhouse

Once again, the tropical root-knot nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii has been found in a Dutch greenhouse. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) reports…

US (PA): Study examines the effects of using insecticides for spotted lanternfly control

Neonicotinoid insecticides used to control spotted lanternflies have the potential to harm pollinators, but the degree of risk depends on multiple factors, such as application timing, type of neonicotinoid, the species of tree being treated, and pollinator species sensitivity. That’s the conclusion of…

Search for new substrate for the cultivation of freesias

Freesias are grown in the soil. The advantage is that this makes it easier to control the temperature of the tuber, cool in the summer and 'warm' in the winter. The soil mass provides a dampening effect when it comes to temperature. However, there is also a major disadvantage: the soil must be steamed…

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Russia: More than 300 thousands tulips were controlled ahead of Women's Day

The Department of Rosselkhoznadzor for the Orenburg region carries out quarantine phytosanitary control in relation to flower products. On the eve of March 8, flowers grown in Orenburg greenhouses are sold both in the region and sent to other regions of the Russian Federation, as well as for export.…

eGRO

In-store signs – what draws the eye?

Customers are bombarded with a lot of information while shopping for goods. The same is true in the ornamental horticulture industry. The next time you visit a retail garden center, pay attention to the signage and whether you would have noticed the signs if you were not specifically looking for them.…

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Russia: Violations uncovered in tulips about to be exported to Kazakhstan

In the period between February 27 to March 5, 2023, employees of the Office of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the Chelyabinsk and Kurgan regions, when implementing state quarantine phytosanitary control, revealed two violations of the current international legislation and the legislation of the Russian…

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India: Flower business wilts as 'coronavirus of roses' hits cultivation in South Bengal

Scientists have finally been able to identify a pathogen that has been causing huge damage to rose cultivation in the state and which started around the same time when the pandemic hit on December 19, therefore, making a section of farmers refer it to as "coronavirus of roses." Scientists of the plant…

EU: 13 countries affected by import ban on plant material susceptible to Xylella fastidiosa

As of Thursday, March 2, 2023, the import of plant material susceptible to Xylella fastidiosa is no longer permitted for 13 third countries: Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. In accordance with EU legislation…

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Fusarium crown and stem rot of 2023 Sponsors Echeveria

Succulent plants continue to be very popular in production. Ata recent greenhouse visit, Echeveria plants were yellowing,shriveling, and dying from Fusarium infection. Often when individual plants start dying on greenhouse benches, common root pathogens, including Pythium and Phytophthora, are suspected.…

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Business’ growth was “So hockey stick, it was just crazy”

Ethical florist and online gifting business Arena Flowers is somewhat of a well-kept secret. “When people find it, they love it – we genuinely have such evangelical support for [the brand] from our customers,” says CEO John Hackett. “But people stumble onto it.” However, the company has just announced…

Russia: Specialists checked tulips for pests

Specialists of the Office of the Rosselkhoznadzor for the Krasnoyarsk Territory carried out phytosanitary control of flower products. There are only a few days left before…

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Silicon tested in search to defeat the dreaded rose black spot

The velvety petals and sweet scent of a rose make it a classic of the traditional English garden. But growers and gardeners have long cursed a disease that has ravaged the delicate beauty of their favorite flowers: black spot. Now scientists at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are trying to find an…

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The beautiful flowers that bees can't use

Today, only a small minority of the plants sold by commercial nurseries are wild-type native species. For example, one 2017 survey of 14 garden centers in the mid-Atlantic region of the US found that just 5.75% of the plants they sold were of this kind. The vast majority are horticultural ones, such as…

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US (VT): Colchester grower recognized for pest management prowess

A battle of the bugs is playing out inside the greenhouses of a Colchester farm. As Kevin Gaiss reports, it’s a controlled battle the owners of Claussen’s Greenhouse and Perrennial Farm have been waging with beneficial insects in an effort to replace dangerous pesticides. The rows of greens inside…

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Top diseases in roses - Powdery Mildew

Just like humans, a rose crop can also be felled by numerous diseases. Which one strike depends heavily on the circumstances. But every grower must have something in their bag of tricks to defend against fungal diseases such as Powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that is caused by many…

Photo: Margery Daughtrey

Leaf spot on calibrachoa

When a grower called to ask about calibrachoa viruses, Margery Daughtrey from the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, and Nora Catlin from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County,  went to scout the crop to see if they saw any troubling symptoms. "Thankfully, none of the plants had obvious symptoms…

This bug was just discovered for the first time in the US, say Customs and Border Protection

For the first time ever, a “corimelaena palmeri” insect has been documented in the US after hitching a ride in a shipment of fresh cut flowers, according to Customs officials. The bug was discovered in October among a shipment of fresh cut flowers in a tractor-trailer at the Otay Mesa Cargo Facility,…

Guide for mite management on Mandevilla

Mites are tiny spiders smaller than 0.5 mm with biting mouthparts. They prefer warm and dry areas. They create direct feeding damage on Mandevilla and indirect damage by chlorosis, growth reduction of leaves and flower buds, and lack of flowering. By reading this article from the Ornamentals Advisory…

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Spotted Lanternfly in Massachusetts: Quarterly update

Quarterly series of webinars, hosted by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, to provide the green industry, environmental groups, and other interested parties with the latest information about spotted lanternfly occurrences, survey updates, and more. This session is eligible for the…

'Greenhouse 2030' demonstrates ways to reduce emissions and optimize crop protection and cultivation

Scientists at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands have employed Vaisala carbon dioxide sensors in their research greenhouses for over a decade. Carbon dioxide is an extremely important measurement parameter in plant science, not just because plants need carbon dioxide to grow but also…

Banana moth successfully controlled with PATS-X drones

PATS has successfully demonstrated the eradication of the Banana moth at a number of Dutch greenhouses in recent weeks. The Banana moth, also known as the Opogona moth, is a pest insect in tropical foliage plant cultivation. Control of the pest is very difficult with available resources, but with the…

Ozonation for greenhouse surface cleaning, available in early 2023

"Ozone is the perfect solution to clean and disinfect surfaces, as it kills all bacterial growth and pathogens on contact, leaving no chemical residue before reverting back to oxygen," says Martin Troughton, Vice President of Operations at Nebula Group. "Ozone is nature's natural cleaner" says Ian…

"Further the development of crop protection products instead of banning it"

The German Horticultural Association ZVG renews its clear criticism of the European proposals for sustainable plant protection on the occasion of the hearing in the Committee…

Bacteria as an alternative to chemical pesticides

Everything that plants absorb eventually ends up on your plate and so in your body, including pesticides. Pesticides are bad for your health and the environment, which is why the EU wants to drastically reduce their use. Professor Marnix Medema of Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is the coordinator…

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US: CBP ensures Valentine flowers make the cut

Just less than two weeks before Valentine’s Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists have inspected nearly 850 million cut flowers for insects, pests, and diseases that could harm the agricultural and floral industries of the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office…

Biobest raises capital for further growth

Biobest and Floridienne have reached an agreement with Sofina, and several private investors, to increase the capital of Biobest by a minimum of €98.5 million. These funds…

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Why thrips change body color?

Several types of thrips can have variable body colors within their population, from very pale, to very dark, but they are all still the same species. We call these “color morphs” in the insect world, and they are quite common among many types of insects, from moths to grasshoppers. While there are likely genetic factors at…

Determining formaldehyde phytoremediation efficacy of selected ornamental plants

In the recent past, deterioration of indoor air quality has become a serious concern due to the increased energy efficiency and reduced air exchange rate inside urban…

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Flowering plant show promise of repelling mosquitos

A flowering plant may provide a safe, biodegradable replacement for DEET as a primary insect repellent. Researchers at the University of Mississippi’s National Center for Natural Products Research have published a paper in the journal Molecules demonstrating that Stenaria nigricans contains compounds…

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National pesticide safety education month focuses on resources and education to support safe pesticide handling and use

February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month, and a time to review pesticide safety practices at your home or place of business, the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) says. WSSA and the American Phytopathological Society (APS), and the Entomological Society of America (ESA) are among the…

Suspicions of two bridgehead invasions of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex in France

Of American origin, a wide diversity of Xylella fastidiosa strains belonging to different subspecies have been reported in Europe since 2013, and its discovery in Italian…

US: Spotted lanternfly experts share what research has uncovered about the pest

Since the spotted lanternfly’s unwelcome arrival in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, researchers have been working tirelessly to learn more about the invasive pest, now confirmed in 45 Pennsylvania counties and reported in surrounding states. Native to Asia, the spotted lanternfly was a new species…

Magister SC is a new tool to fight Mites and Bemisia Whitefly

As growers are continuously battling new pests, as well as old nemeses, any new tool is a welcome addition to the pesticide toolbox. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency…

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First finding of Meloidogyne enterolobii on ornamental plants of Ficus microcarpa at one production site in the Netherlands

This report concerns the first finding of Meloidogyne enterolobii on ornamental plants of Ficus microcarpa at one production site in the Netherlands. The finding was recorded following the finding of one positive sample as part of an export inspection of 320 plants destined for warehouses in a third…

Use of biological control still increasing in Dutch greenhouse

By 2020, pest insects and spider mites in nine Dutch greenhouse crops will have been controlled organically in 95 percent of the area under cultivation, for example, through…

NZ: Update to online myrtle rust tool, giving growers specific spray information

The latest myrtle rust update to the online NZPPI Weather and Plant Disease Management Platform is the first of its kind in New Zealand. HortPlus and Plant & Food Research have upgraded the Myrtle Rust Climate Model with new modeling that gives growers real-time spray management advice based on the…

Dogs sniff out destructive voles to help farmers with control

In 2021, Erik Larsen, owner of a cut flower farm in the Willamette Valley, saw his crop decimated by voles. So did many farmers and ranchers in western Oregon. Voles are members of the rodent family. Many species live in Oregon, including gray-tailed voles (Microtus canicaudus) that are commonly found in…

Protecting agricultural resources from plant pests and animal disease threats on both sides of the border

As of December 2022, the United States and Mexico are celebrating 200 years of bilateral relations. Over these two hundred years, our nations have developed rich diplomatic and cultural ties where agriculture and trade considerations feature a prominent role. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the…

Phytophthora pluvialis restrictions lifted

The Forestry Commission announced it will lift restrictions on felling and movement of timber in six demarcated areas in England impacted by the tree disease Phytophthora Pluvalis. Phytophthora Pluvalis is a fungus-like pathogen known to affect trees, including western hemlock, tanoak, pine (Pinus…

CAN (BC): Invasive spongy moth treatments planned for Courtenay area

To minimize the risk invasive spongy moths pose to forests, farms, orchards, and urban trees and to prevent the moths from becoming permanently established, the Ministry of…

Patented pest management products now available directly from manufacturer

In 2023, IPS is taking a new pathway in the distribution of the company’s flagship products. It is now possible to purchase the CLTab and SPTab solutions under the Insectrac…

Plantae presents: How to read a scientific paper

In this one-hour workshop, Dr. Mary Williams and Dr. Michelle Facette will discuss how to effectively and efficiently read a scientific paper. This workshop will cover the structure and components of scientific articles, the interpretation of statistical analyses, and a case study using a selected…

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US (CT): Renewal of the spotted lanternfly quarantine for Connecticut

The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES), in cooperation with USDA APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), continued to detect expanding populations of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in Connecticut through 2022. The Director of CAES hereby announces the renewal of the Order of Quarantine…

US (NY): New formulation from BioWorks shows good results for botrytis protection

BioWorks launched BotryStop WP, a newly formulated biological fungicide that delivers superior prevention and control of Botrytis when trialed against other biological and…

HTA response to the GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy 2023 to 2028

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) welcomes the Government to launch its five-year GB Biosecurity Strategy. Significantly, the strategy proposes to increase the level…

USDA approves world's first vaccine for honeybees

Dalan Animal Health, Inc., a biotech company pioneering insect health, announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture granted a conditional license for the…

"Plant loss? Investigate what causes it"

Suppliers of cuttings or plants do everything they can to provide growers with disease-free material. Or growers do their own propagation, in which case they also prefer to do it as healthily as possible. Yet there is often quite a lot of plant loss in new crops. Control during propagation often goes…